Flagler County would be in line for a substantial increase in dollars allocated for school resource deputies, and would have the authority to implement a school marshal program.
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For Sheriff and Flagler Schools, Clear Accord: No to Arming Teachers, Yes to More Deputies
At a joint news conference later this week, Sheriff Rick Staly and Superintendent Jim Tager will outline new security measures and initiatives and a plan for additional school deputies, but no weaponizing of teachers.
Hammock Beach “Dragging Their Feet” Over Dunes-Repair Agreement, Vexing County
The agreement with Hammock Beach is the last piece of a mosaic of agreements framing the reconstruction of protective dunes along the beach. But hammock Beach has yet to sign.
First Responders in Florida Aren’t Covered for PTSD. That May Change After Parkland.
Like many states, Florida does not provide lost wages to first responders disabled with PTSD. A bill that would change that is now gaining momentum after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month.
Florida Senate Backs Arming Teachers And Rejects Assault Weapons Ban
The Senate plan and a similar House proposal would allow school boards to decide whether they want to implement a “marshal” proposal to arm certain teachers.
“Do 17 Good Deeds”
Many Join Students Marching Across Flagler Beach Bridge For Gun Sense and Safety
A march of about 200 people across the Flagler Beach Bridge drew students, faculty, administrators and politicians and ended in a brief stand at First Friday for safety measures in schools.
Palm Coast Resident In New York For Friend’s Birthday Party Is Murdered Outside Pizzeria
Hakeem Javon Griffin, a 22-year-old resident of Ryan Drive in Palm Coast, was killed in an argument on a street in Queens, N.Y. on Feb. 28.
After Parkland Massacre, Friday’s Student-Led March Across Flagler Beach Bridge Aims for Solidarity of the Possible
The march head toward First Friday was organized by Flagler Palm Coast High’s Tyler Perry, mixing solidarity with students in South Florida with more local goals about safety.
3 Arrests Yield Stash of Weapons, Cash and Drugs–and Former Member of Mosquito Control Board
The arrests took place at 15 Fariston Place and 196 Pine Grove Drive in Palm Coast, yielding almost $50,000 in cash, more than a dozen firearms, and several pounds of pot.
Water’s Chlorine Taste, Smell and Discoloration Affects South Palm Coast Customers
A mechanical problem at one of the Palm Coast’s three water treatment plants Thursday caused the level of chlorine to spike, and shut down the plant.
Gov. Scott’s Boasts of “Recovering” $1.2 Million From Palm Coast Data Aside, New Documents Detail Extent of Deal’s Failures
Documents obtained by FlaglerLive and disclosed for the first time show the extent of Palm Coast Data’s difficulties and some of Palm Coast government’s own deception along the way.
Gently But Firmly, Flagler Beach Tells County It Wants Control Over Wickline Center Back
The Wickline Center on Daytona Avenue is city-owned, but entirely controlled by the county, a situation the city wants changed in view of a revamp of that entire city-owned block, including the Montessori school.
Palm Coast and Matanzas Golf Course Owners Reach Agreement, With Conditions
Palm Coast government has agreed to significantly code enforcement reduce its lien on the Matanzas golf course in exchange for a dismissal of all pending litigation.
Does Palm Coast Have a Panhandling Problem? Council Member Thinks So, But Legal Options Are Limited
Palm Coast City Council member Heidi Shipley, citing “regulars” panhandling on Old Kings Road and Palm Coast Parkway, wants an anti-panhandling ordinance.
Palm Coast Council Whittles Charter Amendments Down to 3 Minor Changes
Council members discarded the idea of expanding the council to seven members and stuck to minor changes about elections in case of death or resignation, and the next charter-review process.
Ban on Assault-Type Guns Fails in Raucous Hearing, Training and Arming Teachers Passes
The intense debate came during a Senate Rules Committee hearing on a broad package addressing school safety, guns and mental health, in response to this month’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that left 17 people, including 14 students, dead.
For All of Sheriff Staly’s “Green Roof Inn” Tough Talk, the Green Also Stands For Hope and Renewal
Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly today unveiled the Stride Program at the county jail, an ongoing rehabilitation and preparatory program to help inmates reintegrate society and stay out of jail.
Flagler Beach Cuts Its Lifeguards in Half, Narrowing Coverage Area Closer to Pier
A $100,000 cut from the lifeguard budget accommodated the addition of a cop, a firefighter and a raise to the city manager, but will result in a smaller lifeguard coverage area.
As Calls For Broward Sheriff’s Removal Mount, Scott Orders Investigation of School Shooting Response
The directive came as House Speaker Richard Corcoran sent a letter co-signed by 73 Republican House members requesting that Scott suspend Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, a Democrat.
Inside Atomwaffen As It Celebrates a Member for Allegedly Killing a Gay Jewish College Student
When Samuel Woodward was charged with killing 19-year-old Blaze Bernstein last month, Atomwaffen members cheered the death, concerned only that the group’s cover might have been blown.
Robert Barshied, Missing Two Days, Is Found Dead Near Bings Landing, an Apparent Suicide
Robert Barshied, 69, of Matanzas Shores, was found dead in a marsh after an extensive air, sea and foot search. He’d left a suicide note at his home.
Zambrano Orders Judge Scott DuPont to Clear Out of His Offices In Flagler and Putnam
Chief Judge Raul Zambrano’s order, delivered to DuPont by letter today, is as close to the firing of a judge short of a Supreme Court impeachment, and follows an investigation’s withering recommendation for removal.
Behind the Shooting On Seamanship Trail: Drugs, Underage Sex and Mom’s Warnings
Contents of Tristan George’s phone reveal incriminating texts and videos about underage sex and drugs, and warnings to the Palm Coast man from his mother about his behavior.
Epic Child Abuse Case Fails Stand Your Ground Defense in Debacle of Witnesses
An unusual stand-your-ground case unfolded in Flagler court this morning over an allegation that a 39-year-old man punched a 16-year-old girl at Epic Theater in palm Coast last October.
Lawmakers Craft Law Allowing Teachers To Carry Guns In Florida Schools
The controversial measure would allow trained teachers to bring guns to schools, a concept that has divided Republican politicians and faces opposition from Democrats and educators.
With ‘Macbeth’ and Measureless Content, Palm Coast Arts Foundation and City Rep Theatre Launch Shakespeare In the Park
It’s “Macbeth” time Thursday through Sunday as the Palm Coast Arts Foundation and City Repertory Theatre hope Shakespeare in the Park, in Town Center, becomes a local tradition.
Felony Counts Against Ex-Supervisor
Kim Weeks Back Up To 9 In Latest Twist
Six weeks before trial, the prosecution has re-filed against ex-Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks, bringing up the counts against her back to nine in a move to turn up the pressure and angle for a plea. Weeks is not biting.
In a First, Palm Coast Drug Dealer Is Indicted on 1st Degree Murder in Overdose Death of Savannah Deangelis
Joseph Colon, 34, of Palm Coast, is accused of selling the heroin and fentanyl that killed Savannah Deangelis, 23, moments later at her Grand Haven home last October.
Anxious Morning of Gun Threats in Palm Coast Affecting 3 Schools, and a Demonstration by 200 Students at FPC
A gun threat at FPC’s i3 Academy proved unfounded, Buddy Taylor and Wadsworth went on lockdown as deputies resolved another gun threat in Palm Coast’s P-Section, and 200 students at FPC demonstrated against gun violence.
“I’d Like To Stare At Him In the Eyes Now”
Serial Masked Armed Robber Sentenced To 30 Years as Victim Rebukes Him
A Terranova Restaurant owner in court today told castigated Charles Rushing-Griffen for the way he’d stared at her while robbing her at gunpoint in December.
Mold Found In 2 Rooms at Sheriff’s Operations Center After 4 Employees Complain of Rashes
The four employees were relocated and the concern prompted an environmental investigation of the old but renovated building and the closure of two rooms pending extensive clean-ups.
Matanzas High Students Developing Justice Academy For Aspiring Cops and Lawyers
Matanzas High’s law and justice academy, developed by students with help from the sheriff’s office and others, mirrors the popular fire academy at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
2 Palm Coast Women in Separate Incidents Face Charges of Felony Child Abuse By Strangling
Julie Bruce, 52, is accused of strangling an 8-year-old child, and Tina Seale, 40, is accused of strangling a 13 year old. Both women live in Palm Coast.
Witness Describes Disturbing Near-Miss Immediately Before Friday’s Crash That Killed 2 on SR100
Patrick Spurgeon, a trucker, said the woman who slammed into a pick-up, triggering the fatal wreck Friday, had moments earlier passed him while a motorcyclist was passing from the other direction.
Flagler Sheriff and County Officials Worry That Prison Reforms Could Shift Inmates,
and Costs, to County
A spate of criminal-justice reform bills in the Florida Senate has Flagler’s sheriff and a county commissioner worried about what that could mean for the local jail population and budgets.
Claiming “Nothing Will Be Done” On Guns Lets NRA Off the Hook, Overstating Its Strength
NRA influence has limits, and there’s evidence it’s on the wane, but fatalism spares opponents of gun reform from even having to make their arguments for protecting the gun lobby.
Thoughts and Prayers, As Pointless as Outrage
The ultimate, most pointless outrage is at lawmakers and gun freaks, one and the same, who stand in pools of blood as they tell us our gun epidemic has nothing to do with it.
Qualifications Commission Recommends Judge DuPont Removed, Calling Him “Reckless,” Untruthful and “Heavy Handed”
Judge Scott DuPont serves on Flagler’s and Putnam’s civil benches, and was facing a series of accusations that he’d acted wrongfully and recklessly as a judge and a candidate.
Flagler Airport Chief Roy Sieger Calls Fuel Tax Cut Proposed By Renner Committee “Ridiculous,” and Loses
Airport Director Sieger spoke before Paul Renner’s Ways and Means Committee, but Renner, the Palm Coast Republican, voted with the committee to approve the tax cut.
Palm Coast Man Arrested on Charges of Bathing Toddler in Boiling Water and Beating Him
Deviaun A. Toler, 26, of 32 Westfield Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested this morning after an investigation alleges he bathed a child in boiling water and beat him with a switch and a belt.
Fugitive Who Taunted Sheriff on Facebook Is Arrested; Deputy Injured in Violent Struggle
Leslie Pitter faces a first-degree felony after dislocating a deputy’s shoulder in an encounter that included his being tased, and fugitive Francisco Valdez was caught and jailed after taunting the sheriff’s Fugitive Frriday Bingo.
Florida Democrats Speak of Margaret Good’s Victory as a Sign of a Coming “Blue Wave”
Margaret Good’s victory on Tuesday, winning a Florida House seat in Sarasota County, represents the 36th time a Republican seat has flipped Democratic since the 2016 election.
In a Flagler First, 16 Couples Marry, 5 Renew Vows in Mass Ceremony on Courthouse Steps
A couple together 60 years were among those renewing vows in a ceremony led by Clerk of Court Tom Bexley and coinciding with Valentine’s Day.
Facing Deportation, an Undocumented Immigrant Held at Flagler Jail Changes His Plea at Last Minute
The case of Palm Coast resident Filipino Francisco Justo underscores how the potential for deportation increases rather than decreases burdens on the judicial and penal systems.
Reducing Traffic Fines Part of Renner’s Tax Cut Push, But Local Revenue Would Fall
Renner, a Palm Coast Republican, chairs the committee introducing a bill that would cut some traffic fines by 18 percent and provide a $332 million tax cut, but local government revenue would fall by $38 million.
Man at Flagler Jail Tries to Hang Himself, Fellow-Inmates and Deputies Rush To Save Him
An inmate at the Flagler jail tied a bed sheet around a railing, then around his neck, and attempted suicide before inmates and deputies rushed to his rescue Tuesday.
Another Life Term For Paul Dykes as Lurid Child-Rape Case Ends, Absent Reversal on Appeal
For Palm Coast’s Paul Dykes, 21, the most immediate challenge is to contend with a brutal prison culture that makes prey of child sexual predators.
Bill To Keep Florida On Year-Round Daylight-Saving Time Advances Easily
A proposal to shift the Panhandle to Florida’s eastern time failed, but that of keeping the state on daylight saving keeps clearing committees with unanimity.
Palm Coast Residents Say They Like Their City But Less So Their Municipal Government
In the latest survey of residents’ satisfaction, Palm Coast government and the direction of the city takes a significant hit, while services such as police and fire see great satisfaction.
Employee Who Reported Theft From Vacation-Rental Agency Is Herself Arrested For Theft
Alena Borich reported last week to police that the Vacation Rental Pros office in Palm Coast where she works had been ransacked. Friday she was charged with grand theft after allegedly shoplifting from Kohl’s.